LinkShare

Pay-for-performance is now a byword in online marketing. But it was LinkShare who actually pioneered this concept. In 1996, the CEO of the LinkShare, Stephen Messer, created a patented tracking system that was as beneficial for advertisers as it was to their affiliates. Although LinkShare experienced intial success, like many Internet start-ups, it hit a downturn as the dotcom bubble burst in 2001. Fortunately, this downturn was  later reversed when Mitsui, a Japanese investing giant, injected a fresh burst of capital into the company. 

LinkShare also started to become more open about its process as a result of concerns that it didn’t provide concrete numbers. This largely restored confidence in their affiliate marketplace. Their MediaTracker technology further cemented their place as the go-to affiliate program of choice for many people. It allowed  their client’s to track business partnerships, banner ad views, and email marketing campaigns that were being undertaken by marketers. 

Some of the top companies in the United States including AT&T, American Express, and Office Depot choose LinkShare as their online marketing partner. The comprehensive data the site offers ensures that advertisers can track the effectiveness of  their affiliate advertising partners. 

LinkShare is also unique in one other aspect. 

While other competing affiliate networks accept only the larger affiliates that have a significant web presence, LinkShare worked with Buy.com and accepted the much  larger group of smaller affiliates. This means that even if they offered a lower commission rate - as opposed to high commissions structure that  larger affiliate marketers commanded - they were able to generate significantly more sales for their clients. 

LinkShare has now been acquired by Rakuten, Inc. for a cash purchase of around $425 million. The company continues to provide a great service and opportunities to online marketers around the world.